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The work contains the results of the researches carried out by the authors during past years in the field of multiple-criteria optimisation of induction heaters' design based on numerical coupled electromagnetic and temperature fields' analysis. The main goal of the studies is the application of different optimisation methods and numerical finite element method (FEM) codes to solve the multi-criteria optimisation problems formulated mathematically in terms of the typical optimisation criteria: maximum temperature uniformity, minimum heating time, maximum energy efficiency and minimum scale formation. Standard genetic algorithm, non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm NSGA-II, migration NSGA algorithm, and alternance method of the optimal control theory are applied as effective optimisation tools in practically oriented applications. The developed optimisation procedures are planned to be used for solving the wide range of real-life problems of the optimal design and control of different induction heating devices and systems.

We studied the capacity of myelopeptide-4 (regulatory peptide of the bone marrow origin) to induce terminal differentiation of HL-60 and K-562 leukemic cells. Myelopeptide-4 increased the expression of CD14 and CD38 differentiation antigens on the surface of HL-60 cells and of CD44 antigen on K-562 cells, induced the appearance of mature monocyte/macrophages in HL-60 culture and hemoglobin-producing cells in K-562 cell culture, and stimulated phagocytic activity of THP-1 leukemic cells. Myelopeptide-4 is an endogenous factor of cell differentiation, a prospective agent for anti-leukemic therapy.

Summary Galectins, β-galactoside binding proteins, expressed selectively in human breast carcinoma are attractive targets to employ lectin-aimed therapeutics. We examined β-galactoside binding potency of neoplastic cells using fluorescein-labelled synthetic glycoconjugates as probes for flow cytometry. As a result, surface β-galactoside binding proteins/galectins were discovered on mouse mammary carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo unlike non-malignant cells from the several tissues; and asialo-GM1 ganglioside carbohydrate part - containing probe was the most specific one. However, in liver and lung metastatic cells galectins seem to be expressed within cytoplasm and/or nuclei. Galectin expression correlated directly with aggressive tumour potential in the A/Sn transplantable model similar to findings in several human breast carcinoma cell lines. However, galectin expression was reduced during tumour progression in more aggressive forms of spontaneous BLRB mammary carcinomas like it was shown for human breast carcinoma specimens. Analysis of the histopathological data led, however, to the conclusion that galectin expression hardly might be a suitable marker of aggressiveness of heterogeneous mammary carcinomas as the observed level of galectin expression is influenced by the amount of the stroma in a tumour sample and/or probably, galectin expression inversely correlates with tumour aggressiveness during the initial and advanced steps of mammary tumour progression. We conclude that surface β-galactoside binding proteins/galectins that are selectively expressed during mouse mammary carcinoma progression, similarly to human breast carcinomas, seem to be proper targets for asialo-GM1-vectored cytotoxics and our mouse model system might be a relevant instrument to further test novel modes of anti-breast cancer therapy.

Comparisons of carbohydrate profiles between control and apoptotic colon carcinoma cells were performed by flow cytometry using a set of lectins and anti-carbohydrate antibodies. The six cell lines analyzed presented distinct carbohydrate profiles before induction of apoptosis. PHA-L and MAA binding decreased after induction of apoptosis by UV-treatment. In contrast an increase of PNA binding was observed after induction of apoptosis, except on SW-48 cells for which a decrease occurred. A decrease of SNA binding was observed after induction of apoptosis from strongly positive control cell lines, whereas it increased on weakly positive ones. All the blood group related antigens A, H, Lewis a, Lewis x, Lewis b, and Lewis y, had their expression strongly diminished on apoptotic cells. These changes occurred irrespective of the mode of apoptosis induction since similar results were obtained after UV, TNFalpha, or anti-Fas treatment. Fucosyltransferases activities were also decreased after apoptosis induction, except for alpha1,3fucosyltransferase in anti-Fas treated HT-29 cells, where it was strongly augmented. This could be attributed to the IFNgamma preteatment required to induce Fas expression on these cells. Fucosidase activity decreased after induction of apoptosis suggesting that it was not responsible for the loss of fucosylated structures. In the rat PRO cell line, H blood group antigens are mainly carried by a high molecular weight variant of CD44. It could be shown that the loss of H antigen after induction of apoptosis correlated with a loss of the carrier glycoprotein.

Shock compaction features are experimentally investigated for some selected ceramic materials and ceramic composite systems, i.e. SiC, AIN, SiC/AIN, and AIN/Al2O3. A typical microstructure to support the skin model proposed in a previous paper is obtained by using SiC powder with a particle diameter of several micrometres. AIN transforms into an unknown phase. The transformation needs a small amount of oxygen. The amount of the unknown new phase decreases with the increase of shock temperature. Chemical reaction of AIN/Al2O3 mixture into ALON (cubic aluminium oxynitride spinel) occurs under shock loading and proceeds along with increasing shock temperature. Crystallite size and microstrain of the samples are determined by X-ray line broadening analysis. The microstrain for mixture sample and fine powder is larger than that for single-component sample and coarse powder, respectively. As suggested by the skin model, the requirement that the initial particle size is less than 1 µm is essential for ceramic powder to be consolidated by a shock compaction technique in order to yield good compacts of optimum strength and to achieve chemical reaction accompanying mass transport.

Sprouted barley grains, the waste product of malt extract production, were incriminated as the cause of a lethal (96% mortality) neurotoxic syndrome in sheep fed the grains. Clinical manifestations, comprising tremors, lameness, abnormal gait, paralysis and death indicated a tremorgenic mycotoxicosis. Whilst 50% of the flock died within 17 days, mortality continued over more than 5 months. Pathological findings were limited to neuronal degeneration and necrosis in the midbrain. Germinating grains were shown to be contaminated with growth of Aspergillus clavatus.

The first symposium on Alien Plant Invasions in Chile was held in southern Chile in November of 2002. Chile represents an interesting setting to study biological invasions because of its long history of introductions, and its high rate of endemisms that makes it more prone to invasions. However, little is known about plant invasions in Chile and the country lacks a clear policy on alien species. The speakers at the symposium discussed their research on several aspects of alien plant invasions in southern Chile and Argentina. They also elaborated a list of future challenges of plant invasion ecology for the area. The package of recommendations may be useful for other developing countries with similar state of knowledge of their flora and similar environmental and economic issues. We expect that this type of meeting will help to stimulate the scientific debate about invasion ecology and the development of coordinated research to answer local questions, while contributing to find generalities in plant invasion patterns and processes.

The possibility is considered of constructing a laser-radiation measurement device based on the use of a scattering attenuator in conjunction with a radiation receiver having a receiving element of small size and operating in a narrow dynamic range.

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The 14N pure nuclear quadrupole resonance (PNQR) frequencies in the molecular crystals malononitrile and s-triazine were measured as a function of hydrostatic pressure to 6 kbar along several isotherms. Both these solids undergo second-order phase transitions classed in the category of displacive transitions. The evolution of the transitions with temperature had been previously studied by Zussman and Alexander1 (malononitrile) and by Coppens and Sabine2 and Zussman3 (s-triazine).

Describes how TITO N.S. Architects used AutoCAD Release 10 through the stages of design, design development, and preparation of working drawings for 400 houses in the village of Maccabim in Israel.